Opponents For Title Bout Both Confident Of Victory

HAMPTON — Pernell "Sweetpea" Whitaker of Norfolk predicted he will knock out International Boxing Federation champion Greg Haugen in six rounds.

Haugen said he will still be the world lightweight champion when he walks out of the Hampton Coliseum on Feb. 18 after their nationally televised fight.

Promoter Dan Duva of Main Events said the fight, which pits the tenacious champion against the No. 1 contender, has the potential to be the best fight of 1989.

"Six rounds ... that's it ... cut it off," said Whitaker, a gold medal winner in the Olympic Games.

"I'm going to win," said Haugen, the Seattle native who regained his world title from Vinny Pazienza last February in Atlantic City.

As pre-fight press conference rituals go, it was pretty tame stuff. After making the obligatory boasts, the two fighters sat down, relaxed, and discussed what really could be one of the best, and richest, lightweight fights in 1989.

Haugen will receive $426,000 and Whitaker will receive $142,000 in the first world championship fight ever held in Virginia.

"I would have preferred to have this fight in Las Vegas instead of his home town," said Haugen, "but I was dealt this hand and I've got to play it.

"There's pressure on me because I'm not going to have any fans, but there's added pressure for him because he's fighting in his home town. He's got to fight me, and I'm going to stand in front of him and make him fight me.

"I'm no stranger to fighting in other guy's hometowns. It's a rough atmosphere, and the fans are blood-thirsty. Somehow I get extra motivation fighting in other hometowns.

"I know one thing, if I lose, it won't be the fans who beat me. It will be Whitaker."

This will be Whitaker's second chance to win a world title. On March 12, 1988, he fought World Boxing Council champion Jose Luis Ramirez in the champ's adopted home town of Paris and lost a controversial split decision.

Whitaker, who broke his left hand in a 1986 decision over John Montes in Hampton, broke the same hand in the fourth round of the 12-round loss to Ramirez.

"My hand has healed completely," said Whitaker.

"He's going to have to use that hand and show me it's healed because I intend to be in his face the whole fight," said Haugen.

The only blemish in Whitaker's 17-fight professional career is the controversial loss to Ramirez, and the only loss on Haugen's record is a controversial split decision to Pazienza in 1987.

Haugen won a unanimous decision to regain his title from Pazienza and successfully defended it on Apr. 1, 1988, with a decision over Miguel Santana. Six months later he traveled to Denmark and knocked out hometown challenger Gert Bo Jacobsen in 10 rounds.

Whitaker, who has been installed as an 8-5 favorite in the early Las Vegas betting line, said he feels no pressure to put on a good show before his home fans.

"I don't feel any pressure, this isn't the first time I've fought before my fans," said Whitaker. "Having their support is the important thing.

"For most good fighters, a chance to win the world title only comes around once in a lifetime. This is my second chance.

"My goal in boxing was to win the gold in the Olympics and win a world title before my home fans. I said four years ago it (a world title) was going to happen, and now it's going to happen."